Meta has secured deals with several actors, including Kristen Bell, John Cena and Judi Dench, to use their voices for the Meta AI chatbot, Reuters reports. Users will be able to talk to the chatbot while listening to answers in the voice of their favorite celebrities. Other celebrities include Awkwafina and Keegan-Michael Key, a source told Reuters.
Besides these five voices, the source also said that there are more generic voice options if users prefer them. All voices will be available this week in the US and other English-speaking regions, though the source didn’t give any other specific locations.
The news follows a report from last month which claimed Meta was negotiating with actors to secure the rights to use their voices for its AI projects. Now, the deals have reportedly been struck, and the chatbot found when using Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp could feature these famous voices soon. The company had intended to finalize agreements before the Connect conference, where Reuters’ source says it will announce the new voice options.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/metas-ai-chatbot-will-soon-speak-in-the-voices-of-john-cena-and-other-celebrities-160603365.html?src=rss
Starting on October 1, you'll be able to play Dead Space for free with your PlayStation Plus membership. Sony Interactive Entertainment has revealed additional titles to its PS Plus lineup, which includes the remake version of the sci-fi/horror classic. Dead Space for the PS5 (as well as for PCs and Xbox Series X|S) adds voiced lines for the previously silent protagonist Isaac Clarke. It was built from scratch to feature better graphics and lighting, new gameplay mechanics and a transition system that does away with loading screens between levels. Like the original release, the remake still revolves around Clarke, a starship engineer, as he explores an abandoned spacecraft taken over by undead monsters.
In addition to Dead Space, subscribers will also get free access to WWE 2K24 for the PS4 and the PS5, particularly the "40 Years of WrestleMania" edition that comes with retellings of historic WrestleMania moments over the past four decades. Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!will also be added to the PS Plus Library. While its promotional materials make it look like an anime dating sim, it's actually a psychological horror with some pretty disturbing themes. Finally, those paying for the more expensive PlayStation Plus extra and premium subscriptions will also get access to The Last of Us Part I starting on September 26.
SIE has announced new iridescent DualSense wireless controller and PS5 console cover color options, as well. Chroma Pearl, it says, moves through a range of chic pinks and creams, while Chroma Indigo shifts colors from deep blues to vivid purples, depending on how you look at it. Both options will be available on November 7. And then there's Chroma Teal, which was designed to look like anything from yellow-green to blue-green and will be released on January 23 next year. The new controller options will sell for $80, while the console covers will set you back $65.
Sony Interactive Entertainment
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/dead-space-leads-sonys-playstation-plus-lineup-for-october-160042239.html?src=rss
Starting on October 1, you'll be able to play Dead Space for free with your PlayStation Plus membership. Sony Interactive Entertainment has revealed additional titles to its PS Plus lineup, which includes the remake version of the sci-fi/horror classic. Dead Space for the PS5 (as well as for PCs and Xbox Series X|S) adds voiced lines for the previously silent protagonist Isaac Clarke. It was built from scratch to feature better graphics and lighting, new gameplay mechanics and a transition system that does away with loading screens between levels. Like the original release, the remake still revolves around Clarke, a starship engineer, as he explores an abandoned spacecraft taken over by undead monsters.
In addition to Dead Space, subscribers will also get free access to WWE 2K24 for the PS4 and the PS5, particularly the "40 Years of WrestleMania" edition that comes with retellings of historic WrestleMania moments over the past four decades. Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!will also be added to the PS Plus Library. While its promotional materials make it look like an anime dating sim, it's actually a psychological horror with some pretty disturbing themes. Finally, those paying for the more expensive PlayStation Plus extra and premium subscriptions will also get access to The Last of Us Part I starting on September 26.
SIE has announced new iridescent DualSense wireless controller and PS5 console cover color options, as well. Chroma Pearl, it says, moves through a range of chic pinks and creams, while Chroma Indigo shifts colors from deep blues to vivid purples, depending on how you look at it. Both options will be available on November 7. And then there's Chroma Teal, which was designed to look like anything from yellow-green to blue-green and will be released on January 23 next year. The new controller options will sell for $80, while the console covers will set you back $65.
Sony Interactive Entertainment
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/dead-space-leads-sonys-playstation-plus-lineup-for-october-160042239.html?src=rss
If you've had your eye on Blink security cameras to make your home a bit more safe, October Prime Day has you covered with some good discounts. A number of security cameras and bundles are on sale for the event, with one of the most impressive discounts being on a bundle that includes both the Blink Outdoor 4 and the Blink Mini 2 for just $50. That’s a massive savings of $90, or 64 percent, which is a record low. You get the Blink Sync Module 2 in this bundle as well, making it a great option for those who don't have an existing Blink system already.
The Blink Outdoor 4 security camera easily made our list of the best smart home devices, and for good reason. Despite having “outdoor” in the name, this camera also excels with indoor use. The device runs on two AA batteries, so pop it in the backyard, the basement, the kitchen or wherever. The batteries last a full two years before running out.
It’s weather resistant and supports night vision, motion detection and two-way audio. You need a subscription to store clips in the cloud, but it also integrates with USB flash drives via the Sync Module 2 peripheral (sold separately.) It offers Alexa support, which is nice, but doesn’t work with any other smart assistants.
The Blink Mini 2, which also comes in this bundle, is a simple little security camera with color night vision, a built-in spotlight, two-way audio and motion detection. It needs to be plugged into an electrical socket or a USB port to work. This Amazon sale features another bundle with two Mini 2 cameras for $42.
Another notable deal is for a bundle that includes three Outdoor 4 cameras and the Blink Video Doorbell, along with the Sync Module 2 for saving clips to a flash drive. This one costs $120, which is a massive savings of $200.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/blink-security-cameras-are-up-to-64-percent-off-for-prime-day-153819713.html?src=rss
Rideable motorized suitcases are odd products, even more so when adults are the ones riding on them. They look more like fun toys for kids, but strangely enough, such products are in low supply or even non-existent. Of course, the dangers of sitting a kid on a moving vehicle, cute as it may be, can be frightening, but that doesn’t mean the basic design of a ride-on suitcase doesn’t have merits, especially if it doesn’t have motors in the first place. This unusual suitcase for toddlers takes that idea and gives it a little twist, giving it some other utility even when already boarded on the plane or train.
There are plenty of suitcases with colors and decorations catering to kids, but strangely enough, the majority of them aren’t exactly designed for kids. They function more like miniature suitcases for adults with zippers that are difficult to use and compartments that are difficult to access without having to first lay the suitcase down. That might just be a hassle for grownups, but it’s nothing short of a chore for kids, not unlike being told to clean up their closet.
Jetkids is a ride-on suitcase truly designed with a young child in mind, and not just because of how fun it seems to sit on top of it. Instead of a zipper that opens from the front, this suitcase has a top cover that can be easily lifted to reveal the contents inside. The cover itself is actually a container as well, suitable for smaller items or things that the child or parent needs to access immediately.
That’s because this cover can be flipped over and placed on top of the suitcase, acting not only as a sort of desk but also as a leg rest or bed. The idea is to place the suitcase in front of the child’s seat on the plane, extending the area they can sit or even lie down on. And when the child is on the ground and about, the suitcase also offers a place for them to sit down and, if needed, be pulled by their family or guardian.
This unusual yet useful design does limit Jetkids, which was also marketed under the name Stokke Bedbox, to a certain age range that allows them to sit safely on the suitcase. It’s still an interesting design that really puts the ease of use and comfort of the child in mind rather than simply shrinking a product made for older people.
You do not need a PS5 Pro. The Pro is Sony’s latest version of the PS5, offering more power and storage, faster Wi-Fi, and expanded support for tricks like advanced ray tracing, all for the audacious price of $700. That’s nice, but if you already have a PS5, you do not need to rush out and snag the new console. The PS5 Pro is similar to the Steam Deck OLED in this way: It’s a noticeable upgrade, but its existence doesn’t diminish the appeal of the original model. The PS5 you’ve had for years remains very cool and impressive, and if you’re content with it — or if you don’t have the cash to spare — maybe just stop reading right here and go play Astro Bot with your bliss intact.
Now that it’s just us, let’s really get into it. If you regularly play PS5 games and can afford to waste (at least) $700 on a more powerful console with extra gills, you absolutely should get a PS5 Pro.
The PS5 Pro will ship on November 7 with a 2TB SSD, Wi-Fi 7, faster memory, improved rendering capabilities, and support for VRR, advanced ray-tracing and “8K gaming.” With the Pro, Sony has introduced a proprietary upscaling system called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, which fills out details at the pixel level using machine-learning technology in a similar fashion to NVIDIA’s DLSS. There’s also PS5 Pro Game Boost, an enhancement suite that can apply to backward compatible PS4 games, stabilizing or upgrading their performance on the fresh hardware. Sony says this can also improve the performance of supported PS5 titles.
These upgrades theoretically mean players no longer have to choose between a premium resolution and high, consistent framerates, so long as the game you’re playing is updated to take full advantage of the console. On the standard and Digital Edition PS5s, players generally pick between Performance mode, which activates 60 fps or 120 fps at a lower resolution, or Fidelity mode, which offers crisp resolution at 30 fps. The Pro, thanks to the increased power and upscaling system, can easily handle simultaneous 4K output and 60 fps, and then some.
PS5 Pro games
In action, this means games look and feel exceptional on the PS5 Pro. I played a handful of titles on the Pro over two hours at Sony’s San Mateo studio, and many of the setups included a second screen with the game running on existing PS5 hardware, for comparison’s sake. Overall, the standard PS5 games never looked bad, but the Pro screens definitely looked better.
More than anything though, the Pro games felt better. Hopping from 30 fps on the standard PS5 to 60 fps on PS5 Pro — at the same or an even higher perceivable resolution — was all the convincing I personally needed. The Last of Us Part II Remastered offered a poignant demonstration of this difference: I played for a minute in Fidelity mode at 4K/30, and then swapped over to the Pro at 4K/60, and the shift instantly felt right. I questioned how or why I’d ever played a game at 30 fps in my life. Why choose between image quality and framerate when you can have both, you know?
Each developer approached the Pro’s power from a bespoke angle. With Spider-Man 2, for instance, Insomniac was focused on improving draw distance and upgrading the resolution of far-away objects in expansive cityscapes. The result is a crisply detailed web-slinging experience around downtown Manhattan with none of the slight fuzziness that the standard version offers. Hogwarts Legacy developers at Avalanche Software wanted to improve the game’s lighting and reflections, and they did: The Pro version presents a castle filled with slick stones and vibrant stained glass rainbows that ripple realistically as the player moves.
F1 24, meanwhile, can now handle ray-tracing at 4K/60 during races, and the team at Codemasters built new fences and implemented more realistic, auto-generated reflections on the tracks. The difference between ray-tracing and none is stark, and the game’s Performance mode can hit 4K at 120 fps on the Pro, rather than maxing out at 1440p on current models. A new Resolution mode outputs in 8K/60, but to experience that one, you’ll first have to get your hands on an 8K TV.
As with the last generation of upgraded consoles — the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro — a lot of the responsibility for making the PS5 Pro worthwhile lands at the feet of publishers and developers. At yesterday’s State of Play event, Sony announced a second batch of titles that will be upgraded for PS5 Pro, including Stellar Blade, Alan Wake 2, Resident Evil Village and Dragon Age: Veilguard. That's a solid start, but anyone spending $700 on a console will rightfully expect many more upgrades over time.
Talking with all of the developers at the event, there was a shared sentiment: This is an exciting era of experimentation and customization, and the Pro represents a chance for studios to create the definitive console versions of their games. We’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Pro improvements — and, therefore, the future of console experiences in general.
Designwise, the Pro is big, but then again, so is every version of the PS5. It looks enormous next to the updated Slim PS5, but side on and standing vertically, the Pro is the same height as the launch PS5 and it’s only as wide as the current Slim version. This makes for an elongated, skyscraper kind of aesthetic that only highlights how intrusive the console truly is, but if you’re a PS5 player, this is nothing new. The black gills slicing through the top half of the Pro do little to dispel the visual heft, but on top of providing necessary ventilation, they nicely mirror the look of the wider PS5 line.
Jessica Conditt for Engadget
The stand that allows the Pro to be positioned vertically is sold separately and costs $30. There’s also an option to add an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive to the new console, just like the Digital Edition, and that costs $80. So if you’re in the market for the full Pro package, you’ll have to throw down $810.
It’s a beastly price tag for a beastly console, but thankfully that descriptor applies to performance as well as appearance.
Sony is mining a niche market with the Pro, targeting dedicated PS5 players who happen to have money to burn. It’s not for everyone, and Sony will need to convince lots of developers to support this small audience. But for the type of console player who doesn’t balk at dropping $200 on a controller or $700 on a console — me, for instance — it feels like a worthwhile upgrade.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/ps5-pro-preview-i-dont-need-it-but-i-want-it-150042508.html?src=rss
Ring devices are on sale for October Prime Day already, joining a bevy of other Amazon devices that have discounts you can snag right now. Take, for instance, the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam, which was unveiled back in May. The device is on sale for $50. That's a discount of $30 and its lowest price to date.
There's no prizes for guessing what this camera can do — it has a motorized base that can rotate 360 degrees to give you a complete view of the room (as long as it's positioned optimally, of course). The camera also has a tilt range of 169 degrees and it captures HD video. It has the same features as other indoor Ring cams, such as Live View and two-way talk. Those with a Ring Protect Plan will gain access to additional features. There's also a physical privacy shutter that disengages the mic and camera.
Elsewhere, the new Ring Battery Doorbell is 40 percent off and down to $60 and the Doorbell Pro is 35 percent off and down to $150. These are both some of the newest video doorbells Ring has debut over the past year, and both have easy-to-remove batteries that you'll recharge periodically to keep the devices running.
Also, the regular Ring Indoor Cam has dropped to $30, which again marks a record low. It's 50 percent off the usual price of $60. Likewise, the Ring Stick Up Camera Pro is half off and has reached a record low price. This model, which is designed to withstand regular rain and snow while capturing footage in 1080p HDR, is on sale for $90.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/prime-day-starts-tomorrow-and-the-ring-pan-tilt-indoor-cam-is-already-on-sale-for-a-record-low-of-50-144458370.html?src=rss
As world wide as the web is, language barriers still often limit how much of a site people can explore. Well, Reddit is using AI in an attempt to lessen this issue. The company announced Redditors across more than 35 countries will soon be able to automatically translate their entire feeds. The tool first launched in France earlier this year.
The machine learning-powered feature is now available in Brazil and Spain, where Redditors can click a translate icon displayed in the overflow menu. This move will translate their entire feed, including comments, into Portuguese and Spanish, respectively. The setting also allows people to post and comment in their language and have it auto-translated into the community's set language. The key here is that unlike platforms like Instagram, for instance, which require you to click translate for each post, Reddit is automating the process. Redditors can access this feature on the app, mobile browser or desktop.
In the coming weeks Reddit will expand its translation feature to Germany, Italy, the Philippines and countries across Latin America. The platform will also be adding a banner on any translated posts and a quick button to see the original content — helpful if a sentence gets a bit wonky in translation. Plus, Reddit is planning to roll out translated content on search engines.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/reddit-is-rolling-out-ai-powered-translations-to-35-countries-143055337.html?src=rss
I am not the biggest fan of Crocs footwear for many design-related reasons, including its hole-y look. A lot of people find it comfortable to wear, hence its popularity but if you’re hiking or climbing in some weird weather conditions, it’s not the best choice. However, streetwear boutique Bodega is adding an accessory to the Crocs Classic Clog that can turn it into an off-road kind of footwear.
Designer: Bodega
The Bodega x Crocs “NICT-TECH” All-Terrain Clog 2.0 features a removable hood that you can outfit your Crocs with to protect it against the elements that can make its way through the holes. Basically it’s a jacket for your Crocs so you’ll be able to wear it even if it’s rainy, sandy, or whatever other weather condition makes it uncomfortable and unsafe to have a clog with holes.
The footwear comes in a woodland bark camo print while the detachable elements have a matching brown color. The “jacket” itself of course has a weatherproof outer layer. There is also a tiny ripstop bag attached to it where you can put some stuff, providing they’re small and can fit in it without making you feel uncomfortable.
Probably another thing that people find attractive with Crocs footwear is that a lot of things can be attached to it to turn it into something else aside from a hole-y clog. This latest outdoorsey one from Bodega will be available starting September 27 on their website and costs just around $90.
Xbox is releasing new content this week. This Thursday, September 26, you can catch the Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2024 Broadcast, which will feature announcements from Xbox Game Studios, Activision, Blizzard Entertainment and Bethesda. The broadcast will also feature new games from Xbox's third-party retailers — primarily those based in Asia. Last year's show included a list of new titles coming to Game Pass and first looks at a few games.
The Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2024 Broadcast will be available to watch on Tokyo Game Show's YouTube channel in Japanese, English and a range of other languages. It will also offer audio descriptions in both languages and Japanese and American Sign Language. You might have to wake up pretty early for it, though, as the broadcast airs at 7PM JST, which is 6AM ET or 3AM PT. Anyone based in the UK can catch it at a more reasonable 11AM.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/how-to-watch-xboxs-toyko-game-show-livestream-140057083.html?src=rss
